Economía Social y sistemas participativos de garantía: sistematización de una experiencia agroecológica

Abstract

: Sustainability considerations have not gone unnoticed in the agri-food sector, which has always been perceived as a traditional sector. More and more producers and consumers are demanding agroecological products that respect not only the environment but also guarantee the socioeconomic quality of society. Within the social and solidarity economy framework, the Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) are known as agroecological quality certification instruments used mainly by agricultural producers. Farms are worldwide managed by individual producers or families (more than 90%), which underlines the importance of family farming in the agri-food sector. Considering the importance of sustainability and agroecology in this sector, this paper aims to analyze how PGSs contribute to local sustainable development, as well as to determine their implications for the local economy. For this purpose, a case study has been conducted in the Villarino district, located in the province of Buenos Aires in Argentina. The results show that agroecological certification encourages the adoption of collaborative strategies that positively affect the organization of the territory, such as increasing the small producers’ power, income, and knowledge of sustainable production. Therefore, PGSs could be used to reinforce the food system and the stakeholders involved in this sector, achieving a greater scope of the Sustainable Development Goals.